I tried out a new class: Beginner/Intermediate on Thursday at 7:30. I’m so glad I did! I loved it! I think it will be a great addition to my existing schedule. I liked the instructor, Terese, instantly. I feel really lucky to have access to so many excellent teachers at my studio. I was ready for a tough class, but Terese came in exuding a friendly and light-hearted energy that immediately put me at ease. When she recommended the Thursday night class to me, my ballet-friend Miranda warned me that Terese likes difficult patterns, but that she repeats a lot and you get used to them. Indeed, Terese started off…
-
-
Just call us the Sisters Sauté
Today’s post is a guest post from my sister, Kevina. I took her to “Intro/Beginner Ballet” while she visited Atlanta for the weekend. Here is her dance class recap! My notes are in brackets.] TAKEOVER ALERT! To all those in the dance world, hi, I’m Kevina, Kaylyssa’s big sister and a total newb to the dance world since starting modern dance in 2017. This whole “dancing with my baby sister” thing is a surprising twist in our sisterhood, since as a youth I was all about sports and feats of strength, and was/am also the least graceful person I know. Well, the times they’re a changing, and now I know…
-
Zen and the art of the ballet body
Monday night upon arrival to the studio, I was suddenly and extremely bloated. Which was uncomfortable and, as much as I tried to dismiss it as unimportant when looking in the mirror, negative thoughts wormed their way in. It is sort of shocking to wake up with one body shape and end the day as an entirely different shape — while you are wearing a skintight leotard and looking into a wall of mirrors. Also, I’ve been trying to do some yoga at home, so I had sore shoulders and arms from that, and felt generally stiff. I guess it was a physically uncomfortable class. I had a really good…
-
Semantic satiation
It’s been the usual ballet grind lately—no forays into modern dance or scary new teachers. I finally learned the name of the other lady that comes on Mondays and Wednesdays. Miranda. She’s really nice. We were chatting and I mentioned that class I went to on Friday. “Oh you went to Pedro’s class?!” she said excitedly. I told her all my woes and she was understanding but insisted that his class is great, if hard. I didn’t go to any class last Friday. Just didn’t feel like it. I’ve been good about going every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday as I promised myself I would, but I’ve been less enthusiastic than…
